Poetry Corner-"Set Aside"

What a joy it is to be saved from a rotting tree

Given a chance to plant roots in fertile soil

The opportunity to start again is a chance most people rarely get

I am one of the fortunate drawers in this lottery of life

To be set aside from the rubbish and preserved in a secure vault

The precious jewel shaped only by nature’s forces

Not tainted, abused or manipulated

My original form hasn’t been altered

I am still in tack

Everything I was blessed to have is still part of my destiny

How wonderful it is to be whole again

Kelis and Nas Split: Can Marriages Last These Days?

I never write about negative issues, nor do I keep up with everything going on in the media, but when certain stories spark personal thoughts and questions, I feel it's only appropriate to give my opinion.

The recent filing of divorce by Kelis Jones from soon to be ex-husband and baby father, Nas, caught me a little by surprise.

Since I don't come from a family or community of married folks, I get my inspiration from those in the church, my immediate surroundings and sometimes those in the media. So when couples unite in a wedding bliss, I am happy for them because I know God didn't make man to live alone. But when they split up, I am left pondering, “What’s the point?” Yeah, I know we are not suppose to base our lives on what we see others do, but when you have never traveled certain roads it’s wise to look at the examples of others to guide you.

I guess my question is, "What does it take for a marriage to last?" I am a hopeless romantic who truly believes that covenants made between two people are not meant to be broken under any circumstance. I view love as being "unconditional". Under no conditions will I stop loving.

Maybe I am too traditional and a little ignorant to what it really takes to make a marriage work, but as I get older and wiser, I am beginning to understand much more than I did in my 20's. At this point in my life, I am more open to the prospects of spending by life with that special lady, but will marriage ruin our connection or draw us closer?

What are your thoughts on the subject of marriage and divorce?

Consistency for My Rib

Loving, delicate creature of my flesh, I apologize for all the problems I caused.

The times I have mislead and left you to travel treacherous, unknown paths alone.

My guidance is often not as direct and consistent as it should be.

Forgive me for not knowing my rightful place in your life, the household, the community, the world, this Earth.

There are no excuses worthy of mention.

The blame lies with me.

It is my duty to fulfill the prophecy and I have yet to take a bold stand.

To be at the position of command.

The overseer.
The provider.
The protector.
The leader.

The one who shields his family from all forces that may try to derail them from their path of righteousness.

The courageous soul who carries all the weight and never once flinches for he knows his strength can bear more than mere pounds.

The lion that sits calm and secure upon the mountain top, in a place where fear doesn't exist.

The Zulu warrior with the heart of billions of trained men all residing in him.

The man that holds the power and mite of all his ancestry in one gripped fist.

I now know that you are too precious to be taken advantage of or misused.

You are not a bitch, whore or a slut.

In fact, you are far from those depictions that I have been brainwashed to believe were so.

Your worth is more valuable than all the gold and diamonds mines in sweet Africa.

Your rare encrusted beauty is one to be preserved and adored for ages to come.

I am in love with you, but I don't lust after your mesmerizing scent.

I have taken power over those sinful desires.

I comprehend and uphold the covenant of marriage.

Never will I pretend to be a pimp and embarrass you among your peers.

I am in full control of my emotions so there is no confusion in my words.

No more wavering like the sea.

I am still like the water and ever lasting like the Sphinx.

You can depend on me to stand firm and guard you against predators.

When the night air changes through its natural patterns, I'll still be here.

As the chill of the breeze causes you to shiver, I will still be here to cover you when life's daily events attempt to cause worry.

I am now Consistent

Michael Jackson is a Great Example of the Obsession With Image

I respect MJ's music, but the man has deep image issues stemming from childhood. I only decided to use this video as a means to shed light into the obession we have with self-love and how it has taken over our percptions of beauty.

Looking in the Mirror: Is Image Really Everything?

When girls are young enough to smile, drool and put dirt on their dress, they are told how cute and adorable they are. Their cheeks are often pinched until red and they are smothered with hugs and kisses from family, friends, strangers and fans alike. This is the precious sweetheart’s first introduction to the concept of beauty, the attention it attracts and the egotistical attitude it might foster.

As the princess grows and is able to view herself in the mirror like mother does, she begins to truly see herself for the first time. Before this point, she only saw herself through the eyes of others. Especially, Dad’s unconditional, loving eyes. To him, she is the most beautiful gem in the world and the fairest lady in all the land. She now gazes at herself in a puzzled manner as she begins to critique every speck on her face from the shape of her nose and fullness of her lips to the size of her forehead. Suddenly, the color of her hair and eyes are all wrong and the way her ears resemble her mother’s are disgusting. No longer does she admire her curves and the way her breast sit on her chest without a bra. She has convinced herself that she is obese, ugly and worthless. How did the girl raised to be a confident queen transform into someone who lacks self love.

Didn’t we all hear our parents say, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”? Well it seems as though the mass media is the gate keeper to all the images of what classifies beauty and they have no intentions of handing the key over to the common man. Through magazines, television and movies they transmit their perceptions of what looks good and we absorb them like mere robots. Rarely do we question their motives. Since they are labeled as specialist in the field of all things trendy, we take their advice and rush out to get the latest hairstyle, wardrobe, electronic device, ect.

Many believe women are the only people who have been brainwashed into believing the notion that “image is everything”. I have known a lot of men to buy into this obsession as well and I am not talking about homosexual men. Every man, I have every known, has put some level of thought into the way he presents himself to the public. Whether it was going to work, on a date, to class, a restaurant, night club, church or just hanging out with friends and trying to impress a potential girlfriend or wife. I am not saying being image conscious is a negative thing, but when it becomes obsessive, it can become a serious problem.

Music and the entertainment industry has played a major role in creating perceptions of image. Growing up in the inner city and being possessed by hip-hop music helped to dictate a large percentage of the cultural norms in this society. I can vividly recall RUN DMC wearing leather pants suits and gold rope chains singing, “My addidas”. This caught on like wild fire and caused everyone to start “rocking addias”. I believe this was the first time fashion and marketing firms realized the impact music has on pop culture and how they could utilize the format to make profits.

After the sneaker craze came high top fades and later the Caesar haircuts with 360 waves, popularized by Nasir Jones. Nas was also the one who rapped about being “Armani deranged”, which I became during my college years. He was probably the most influential artist for me and we are only a year or two apart in age. For children who didn’t have access to growing up wearing designer made clothing, the hip-hop stars brought that awareness along with all the other knowledge they dropped into our mind; from politics, community awareness and history.

Women of the same era were influenced from music as well. Girls in the eighties dressed up like the material girl, Madonna, with big hair, fish net stockings and major accessories. And many sort to possess the hats and hairstyles displayed by the popular rap group Salt and Pepper, everything posted on television, was copied.

It is no surprise that celebrities, fashion models and designers have had an impact on the way we see ourselves and others. We have become so obsessed with what we wear, drive and how much fat is hugging our waist, neck and thighs whereas those thoughts consume us, causing most to spend money on random emotional shopping sprees, over priced European cars and expensive gym memberships so we could feel and look important.

Every men’s and women’s health magazine has an article focused on “Getting the Six Pack Abs” or “A Thinner Waist”. There are also endless commercials and advertisements on skin crèmes, hair products and exercise equipment. It is probably the only market that hasn’t suffered from the recession. The beauty industry is a billion dollar business and I don’t see any chance of it slowing down.

In fact, things have gotten progressively worst and Hollywood continues to be one of the leading contributors to the rise of image confusion. Celebrities have always been the obsessed population focused on looks. Perhaps it is because they make a profit off of their features, so they are more open to maintaining their status “by any means necessary”. This has pushed many to get plastic surgery, breast implants, body wraps and whatever procedure promises to stop the natural aging process.

Since we live in a nation that is obsessed with following the rich and famous, we now have everyday citizens spending their savings to mimic their favorite celebrity. What these fanatics fail to comprehend is the serious complications involved in these dangerous procedures. Women have been scarred by botch surgeries. Some have even lost their lives at the hands of untrained doctors and medical staff. Although many read the horror stories and are advised of the side effects, they still place themselves in these potentially deadly situations. Is the price of false beauty worth that much?

I believe we all can admit to being hypnotized by the vanity in some fashion or another, but how can we rid ourselves of being overly saturated in a world of excessive self-love? How can we keep a healthy balance without becoming a narcissus? For starters, we can take it upon ourselves to cleanse our minds of the mis-education of what beauty is and redefine those characteristics for ourselves. Ultimately, image starts from within and it is way more complex than just someone’s physical appearance. It involves the core essence of a person. The way they speak and look at you so attentively, their wealth of knowledge, passion and aspirations. Also, the way they treat their family and neighbors. personally, out of all the elements, the spiritual centeredness a woman posseses draws me and keeps me intrigued. These are truly the essential ingredients that define beauty. Anyone can be easy looking on the eye, but what will keep us connected to the person long after the deterioration of the outer layer is what makes the connection everlasting?